On July 10, 2026, President Donald Trump terminated all three remaining members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), effectively disabling the agency responsible for overseeing federal election administration. The two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, received termination notices via email, while Republican commissioner Christy McCormick was allowed to resign. The fourth commissioner, Donald Palmer, had previously left the agency earlier in the year.
This action follows recent Supreme Court decisions regarding presidential removal power, which may impact the structure and function of bipartisan election agencies. Election law professor Rick Hasen noted that the implications of these removals could lead to legal challenges regarding the president's authority to dismiss members of bipartisan commissions.
The immediate consequence of the terminations is that the EAC is unable to perform its functions, which include certifying voting systems and overseeing federal voting standards. Without commissioners, the agency cannot approve new certifications or update guidance related to voting systems. The Brennan Center issued a statement emphasizing that the EAC was designed to operate with bipartisan leadership and cannot make significant decisions without a quorum of confirmed commissioners.